Paediatric Task Force

The Paediatric Task Force predates the IDDI Paediatric Workstream, but the two work extremely closely and have many members in common. 

The Task Force fosters global collaboration in paediatric PH, especially in order to maximise the potential of real world data in PH registries worldwide. The mission is to bring people together in order to improve knowledge, encourage research and optimize delivery of clinical care of neonates, children and adolescents with pulmonary vascular disease wherever they live in the world. If you’re interested in joining this Task Force, please get in touch.

Events

• Satellite Meeting at PVRI 2026 Dublin

  First Joint Paediatric IDDI & Task Force Meeting - Breaking New Collaborative Ground in Paediatric Pulmonary Hypertension (PH)

  The inaugural joint session marked an important step toward closer alignment between the Paediatric Task Force and the IDDI Paediatric Workstream, reflecting a shared commitment to breaking silos and strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration in paediatric PH. The meeting brought together clinicians, researchers, drug developers, and patient focused experts to define priority areas, highlight emerging scientific insights, and support future collaborative work.

  The session included:

  • Maria Jesús del Cerro emphasising the need for coordinated global collaboration and the complementary strengths of the IDDI and the Paediatric Task Force
  • Maurice Beghetti presented insights from the PHGPS survey, highlighting patient family priorities and unmet needs that should shape future research
  • Megan Griffiths outlined progress toward a harmonised, multi centre paediatric PH risk score based on robust, prospectively collected real world data
  • Sylvia Nikkho discussed how structured extrapolation from adult studies can accelerate paediatric drug development recognising paediatric–adult differences “similar does not mean the same.” 
  • Shahin Moledina introduced emerging MRI and echocardiographic imaging endpoints that enhance feasibility and response assessment
  •  Anne Hilgendorff addressed neonatal PH, underscoring unique challenges and the need for neonatal specific biomarkers, phenotyping, and NICU ready trial designs

  • The session closed with a call from Sylvia Nikkho to strengthen TF–IDDI synergies and continue building a sustainable, collaborative paediatric PH research ecosystem

    Watch the recordings here

     

  Updating the Paediatric Classification Kicking-off at PVRI 2026 Dublin

  The PVRI Paediatric Taskforce is embarking on an update to the Paediatric Classification of Pulmonary Vascular Disease— first introduced and agreed at the PVRI 2011 Panama meeting and published that same year in Pulmonary Circulation alongside the first functional classification of PH for children and infants. These tools are now used by paediatricians worldwide. 

  The group began by surveying Paediatric Task Force members for suggestions on how to proceed, and the results were presented at the Paediatric Satellite Meeting at PVRI 2026 Dublin by Rachel Hopper & Nidhy Varghese.

  Watch the recording here

Other past events

• Annual Meetings of the Paediatric Task Force during the PVRI annual Congress: Panama 2011, Cape Town 2012, Istanbul 2013, Giessen 2014, Ghuangzhou 2015, Rome 2016, Miami 2017, Singapore 2018, Barcelona 2019, Lima 2020, Athens 2022, London 2024, Rio 2025, Dublin 2026
• The Neonatal & Childhood Pulmonary Vascular Disease Conference (annual conference 2011, 2013, 2014. 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
• Latin Symposium on Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension, Panama 2022, Sao Paulo 2024
• Annual Meetings of the REHIPED registry, with participation of Pediatric Taskforce PVRI members of Spain, Colombia, UK

Publications:

• Nawaytou, H., Fineman, J. R., Moledina, S., Ivy, D., Abman, S. H., et al. (2021). 'Practice patterns of pulmonary hypertension secondary to left heart disease among pediatric pulmonary hypertension providers'. Pulmonary Circulation, 11(1)
• Caicedo, L., Hopper, R., Garcia Aguilar, H., Ivy, D., Haag, D., et al. (2019). 'Acute vasoreactivity testing in pediatric idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: an international survey on current practice'. Pulmonary Circulation, 9(4)